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Paul Collingwood has insisted England are happy to go into Twenty20 battle without Andrew Strauss.

James Anderson bowls into the nets yesterday

The Test and one-day captain has been the tourists’ in-form batsman since the summer, and hit 72 and 117 not out as they won their first two 50-over warm-up matches in South Africa.

But he quit the shortest form of the game this year, leaving Collingwood to lead England into today’s first Twenty20 international with the Proteas.

And after this week’s abject 20-over warm-up defeat by South Africa A – when a Strauss-less England were skittled out for just 89 – there is a clamour for the Ashes-winning skipper to be named in the team for today’s game in Johannesburg.

But Collingwood said: ‘He’s made the decision a while back. He’s always said he doesn’t enjoy Twenty20, probably because of the fact he’s never done that well in it. But his game is developing all the time. He was always good at Test cricket and has developed into a world-class one-day cricketer.

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‘I’m sure he’ll be able to make the next step but, at the moment, we have two important games coming up. He’s obviously not available for those and that’s the decision he has made.’

While Kevin Pietersen, returning from an Achilles injury, will not be available until England’s 50-over game against South Africa A next Tuesday, his arrival this week has given the team a boost.

Collingwood added: ‘He’s going to be available from the Potchefstroom game and we’re all looking forward to him coming back into that starting line-up.’

Meanwhile, bowlers Graham Onions, James Anderson and Graeme Swann, who all had slight niggles, are fit to play today. It means only Stuart Broad [shoulder] misses out.